The Vice President made the call when he addressed the Commonwealth conference of Heads of Election Management bodies at the Accra International conference centre. The three-day conference which attracted participants from all the 54-member states would among other issues strategise on activities that would promote freedom and good governance.

The conference would also tackle all causes of electoral failure in some member- states and help provide them with technical assistance and capacity building.  Vice President Mahama commended the commonwealth secretariat for choosing to hold the conference in Ghana, which he said would boost the country’s image in democratic dispensation in Africa. “In 2008 our Electoral Commission was tested to the limit. A closely fought election brought us to the brink and tested Ghana’s belief in democratic governance to the limit.”

He pledged government’s support to the EC in all its statutory functions to position it as a model in Africa and the developing world.  “As we work towards the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2012, the government is seriously studying proposals to support the Electoral Commission undertake biometric voter registration. The government will also collaborate with Electoral Commission and all stakeholders to ensure successful elections in December, 2012 to once again enhance the democratic credentials of Ghana.”

Madam Masrie Mwamba, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Election Management Bodies, said her outfit was fighting tooth and nail to create a conducive environment for the exercise of democracy among member-states.  She said the conference would be used to address all the electoral inadequacies that had recurred in various countries and re-strategise ways by which a common platform for democracy would be created.

Mr. Navin Chawla, Chief Electoral Commissioner of India said the conference would at the end of their three-day programme come out with a steering committee on elections and pledged the support of the India government to ensure its success in the world.
GNA

 Vice President Mahama gave the assurance in Tamale on Friday at a two-day “Savanna Private Sector Roundtable” aimed at brainstorming to see the critical incentives necessary to stimulate the private sector investments in the Northern Savanna, so that the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) could come to stay.

Some 40 international and Ghanaian business leaders are attending the two-day brainstorming programme, which also aimed at soliciting the support of the private sector to help accelerate the development of the north.  Specific ideas that would emerge from the discussion would be used to feed into the SADA strategy, and also to prepare a policy brief to government on “Boosting private investments in the Northern Savanna.”

 Vice President Mahama said the north has a comparative advantage in the areas of its land mass, sunshine, and a number of water bodies that could be tapped for agricultural purposes saying, “The time has come for the nation to tap the potentials of the north to build its economy.” He said it was the duty of the country to create equitable conditions for Ghanaians to feel comfortable anywhere they live, so that they would not continue relocating to crowd the cities in search of nonexistent jobs.  He called on all Ghanaians irrespective of political and ethnic affiliation to support the SADA to succeed.

Vice President Mahama condemned the practice where people’s businesses were destroyed because of their political lineage saying, “People’s businesses should not be destroyed because of their political commitment to other parties.”  “Political power is like a vicious cycle. It rotates at anytime and if we continue to let people suffer because they are not sympathetic to your party the nation would always lag behind in development. If business persons are allowed to operate in a free atmosphere, they may even change their minds and support not your party, but the course of the government,” he explained.

He said cabinet had passed the SADA Bill and was now waiting for parliamentary approval, and expressed the hope that parliament would give it the necessary attention.  He said pledges from donor and development partners to support SADA were amounting to about 80 million dollars.

Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengbe, Northern Regional Minister said people of the North should be bold enough to tell their story and adopt pragmatic ways of liberating the north to ensure that it received the needed support.  He said the private sector should also be educated on SADA so that it would give the necessary support.

 He gave the assurance that the three northern regions would give the maximum cooperation to businesses in the area for the improvement of the northern economy.
    Alhaji Asumah Banda, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Antrak Group of Companies, advised government to set up industrial villages in the country to make it easier for investment.  He said the SADA programme should not be a nine-day wonder, saying, “The problem of the country is that nice programmes can be put on paper but implementation becomes difficult.

Naa Professor John Nabila, President of the National House of Chiefs said the time to develop the north was now and called on the country’s development partners to help alleviate the north from poverty by supporting the SADA initiative.
GNA

Addressing workers at this year’s May Day Parade in Accra, President Mills commended organised labour for its cooperation with Government since it took over the reins of government in 2009.  However, he appealed to the Leadership of workers unions and associations to be accommodating and to cooperate with the FWSC to build a lasting and forward-looking consensus on the new and improved pay structure.

 This year’s celebration is dedicated to the memory of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s First President, for his abiding faith and commitment to the working people of Ghana.  It is under the theme: “Consolidating Workers Solidarity and the Legacy of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.”

 The workers mostly clad in white tee-shirts and jeans trousers carried placards some of which read: “No Politician Should Do Any Politricks with Our Money”; “National Health Insurance Scheme is Not Working”; “Higher Incomes Higher Productivity”; “Uncle Atta, Put Money in Workers Pockets Right Now” and “Mr. President, Chase the Textile Smugglers out of Town.”  

Others were: “Workers Need Upward Adjustment of Salary Now before Single Spine”; “Our Take Home Pay Cannot Take Us Home.”  Some workers from Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) wrote on their placards: “GNPC Killing TOR”;”We Need Our Own Crude Oil” and “Free TOR from GNPC Now”. 

President Mills reiterated that continuous dialogue between Labour and Management, as well as Labour and Government, was crucial to creating and sustaining peaceful, harmonious and trustworthy industrial relations. He said the Government, therefore, expected Organised Labour and Employers to use established institutions such as the National Labour Commission, Tripartite Committee and FWSC to resolve labour matters.  

President Mills said with the enactment of the Pensions Law, workers’ benefits under the various tiers would be significantly enhanced, and reiterated that the Government was very much committed to making good its manifesto pledge of creating jobs for the scores of unemployed Ghanaians. He said the Government had put in place measures to give the economy stable legs to operate on in order to promote the creation of employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy.

President Mills appealed to commercial banks to respond appropriately to the improvement in the macro-economy which the Government initiated last year with affordable credit to the private sector to expand; stimulate growth and provide lasting jobs. Referring to the inscriptions on the placards, President Mills said: “Fellow Workers, I have taken notice of the very interesting writings on your placards and you can rest assured that Government takes the hard-hitting ones in good faith, and it will do all it can to address those concerns that are dear to your heart.”

President Mills gave the assurance to Ghanaian workers that Government would work assiduously to protect the rights and interests of workers to fully utilise their potentials to contribute to nation building.  On the recent unannounced visits to workplaces, President Mills explained that they were meant to encourage but not for retributive purposes and added, however, that the Government would ensure that the national growth agenda was not derailed.

While thanking Organised Labour for its appreciation of Government’s  efforts at addressing workers’ issues, President Mills, reminded workers that the fight against corruption was not to please him per say, but it was incumbent on all Ghanaians to work consciously at building a Better Ghana.

President Mills paid tribute to Osagyefo The President for his dynamism on the organisation of the Labour Movement, and said: “I assure you that just as Dr Kwame Nkrumah respected and recognised the vital contribution of gallant workers in giving meaning to his development agenda, so shall this NDC Administration give more meaning to Government and Labour relationship as we stay committed to building a Better Ghana.  “There are certainly brighter days ahead and all I ask of you is to support Government to build a Better Ghana,” he said.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), said Trade Union solidarity was even more crucial in view of Ghana’s new phase of emerging oil and gas industry.  He drew attention to the developments at TOR and asked for the immediate intervention of President Mills to bring an end to what he called “the ongoing power play in the supply of crude oil and related factors to save TOR from collapse”.
     The Secretary General drew President Mills’ attention to the disturbing spectacle of many companies that were directly or indirectly preventing their workers from joining or forming trade unions, especially, companies operated by foreign nationals.
     Mr Asamoah warned labour consultants to stop polluting minds of workers that trade unions were no longer necessary, and emphasised that those so called experts could never replace trade unions.
    Professor Nii Noi Dowuona, Member of Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Planning Committee, read a solidarity message from the Committee, and saluted Ghanaian workers.
    Prizes were given to distinguished workers, and the most prestigious award was given to Mr Justice Kobena Baah Ampiah, a Retired Supreme Court Judge.
    The GTUC also presented a special prize to Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; it was received on his behalf by Nana S. K. B. Asante, Asante Asokorehene.

GNA

“What the President would do or not do about DCEs would be determined by how well or not well they perform,” Mr Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communication at the Presidency, said. He made the President’s reaction known to journalists after a closed-door meeting with the last batch of DCEs in the Northern Region on Tuesday.

Mr Anyidoho said the President made his sentiments known when responding to questions at the meeting about calls by some party supporters to dismiss some DCEs for non-performance. Mr. Anyidoho who described the meeting as a frank encounter between the President and the DCEs.

President Mills, however, charged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to be more innovative and proactive in addressing development challenges of the people. He warned that he would not entertain under-performance by his appointees.

He charged them to think outside the box, explaining that there was the need for the executives, as leaders in the various districts, to lead the way for vigorous national growth.

President Mills, who met the 22 District and Metropolitan Chief Executives in two batches on Monday and Tuesday behind closed doors as part of his two day visit to the region, also charged them to ensure judicious use of state resources, making it clear to his appointees that he would not hesitate to dismiss those who misused allocated resources.

The President reminded them that they were appointed on the basis of their expertise and, therefore, much was expected of them.

The success of the government, he said, depended largely on development progress made at the grassroots, and the government was expecting the DCEs to effectively implement development projects. “Your performance is critical,” Mr Anyidoho quoted the President as saying.

According to him, the chief executives, for their part, made their challenges known to the President, and called for more collaboration and support from central government.

Source: Ghanaian Times

He was addressing a press conference on the Ministry’s maiden programme dubbed “Matters Arising” in Accra which is a platform to periodically present to Ghanaians an insider-account of government’s stewardship and forum for interaction and feedback.  Mr Akologu noted that government’s “Better Ghana Agenda” was on course and that the expected change would be impressive, massive and crosscutting.

He said due to the institution of prudent management policies inflation had reduced from 18.1 per cent in January 2009 to 14.23 per cent by the end of February 2010. “The decision by the Monetary Policy Committee of Bank of Ghana to reduce the Policy Rate by 200 basis points from 18 to 16 per cent also led to a reduction in the Treasury Bill rate to 17 per cent in mid-February, from an average of 25 per cent in October 2009,” he added.

Mr Akologu pointed out that this development could lead to massive reduction in the lending rates of banks to address the concerns of Small and Medium Scale enterprises.  He said government had managed to trim the huge fiscal deficit of close to 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to less than 10 per cent of GDP and settled most of the arrears estimated at about GH¢1.7 billion across all sectors of the economy, while public debt was in excess of eight million dollars.

 ”To address this situation generally, government has in addition to other payments released GH¢160 million for the payment of road contractors.  “A few weeks ago, government paid the management of Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) GH¢450 million as part-payment for debts owed it by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), the bank was on the verge of collapse and badly exposed as a result of the TOR debt,” he said.

Mr Akologu explained that beneficiaries of payments of arrears such as the railway workers, newly recruited nurses and teachers whose remunerations had not been paid for several months in 2007 and 2008, would now have improved living standards, while many other crippling arrears in other sectors had continued to receive attention over the last 15 months.

He announced that government was working on plans to revamp the railway sector by spending two million Ghana cedis on the rehabilitation of the Takoradi rail lines, ensure refurbishment of the Tema rail lines to help improve human transportation, ease up the Tema-Accra traffic and ensure that the Accra-Kumasi rail lines became operational.

On job creation, Mr Akologu said as government continued to stabilise the economy, many more job opportunities would be created.  ”Investment inflows have already started coming in appreciable volumes and as government continues to promote competitive advantages of the country to the investment world, the country’s job markets would continue to expand and absorb the growing number of skilled labour,” he added.

 Mr Akologu announced that 200 newly registered companies with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in 2009 were expected to create about 18,789 jobs for Ghanaians.  He said in the Northern Region, some initiatives including the construction of a shea butter processing plant at Buipe, while the Ministry of Trade and Industry had released GH¢1.9 million for preparatory works at the Northern Star Tomato Factory at Pwalugu to commence work.

Mr Akologu said the education sector had received great attention, citing the free school uniform programme for deprived pupils, the distribution of over 42 million free exercise books and a 50 per cent increase in the capitation grant.  He said about 7.3 million Euros had been made available for the upgrading of technical and vocational facilities in some institutions including Takoradi, Tema and Saint Paul Technical Institutes.

Mr Akologu said 600 out of 3,947 schools that conducted classes under trees were being replaced with new classroom blocks and teachers in such deprived communities provided with special incentives.  He assured the citizenry of their safety and security at all times, saying in-spite of the challenges in few areas including Bawku that must be addressed, it was imperative that the security agencies were up to the task.

On the Bawku crises, Mr Akologu warned that government would not allow any institution including chieftaincy to foment trouble and disturb the peace in the country.  He announced that National Boundaries Commission would be sworn-in on Friday, April 9 to ensure Ghana’s boundaries were well demarcated and internationally approved, while special security arrangements had been put in place to ensure the oil and gas resource were protected.

GNA

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Dr. Kwabena Duffour, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said in a speech read for him that good governance was central to creating an environment that fostered growth and development.  He said good governance also ensured that government was more accountable and responsive to the needs of the people and there was better prioritization.
  “It also means strengthening of governance institutions and system opening up space for engagement with civil society to enhance accountability.”

Dr. Duffour said these principles, when applied, would lead to better policy formulation and decision making, a more transparent public procurement system that would reduce corrupt practices and lead to value for money and more efficient resources allocation.

Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, commended Ghanaians for achievements and accomplishments as a nation in terms of good governance over the past 20 years.  ”We have chalked many successes including having four successful elections and several transfers of power from one political party to another,” she said.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said the governance programme should be led and driven by the government as stakeholders and not by donors.  She said the priority of the legal sector should the reform of the criminal justice system and access to justice which is central to the human right situations in Ghana.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu expressed the hope that the annual dialogue on governance would “bring us all together to review progress and deliberate on the way forward and facilitate the urgent implementation of the government’s better Ghana agenda”  Mr. Paul Victor Obeng, the Chairman National Development Planning Commission, appealed to government agencies and departments to team up to deliver on their mandates

GNA

Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye insists the practice of “peace seeking” has proven unsuccessful and it is now time for peace to be enforced.

Advocating for a state of emergency to be declared in the region, Nii Vanderpuiye said punishments must be exacted on people who have vowed to cause trouble there.

Bawku in the Upper East Region has experienced protracted violence between the Kusasis and Mamprusis which has claimed dozens of innocent lives.

One person was lynched and two others sustained serious gunshot wounds after a group of gunmen went on the rampage last week.

Fearing reprisal attacks, Upper East Regional Minister Mark Wayongo called for a security red alert.

Interior Minister, Martin Hamidu on the advice of the Regional Security Council declared a one week curfew which is expected to last from 4pm to 6am.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye told Citi News on Monday the miscreants must now be treated with a heavy hand.

They must be shown no mercy, he said, if the seeming endless conflict is to be resolved.

The military came under heavy vitriolic attack late last year from human rights advocates after they (military) paraded two suspects naked through the Bawku Township.

The suspects were alleged to have fired indiscriminately into the air.

But Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye said the idea of human rights should be shelved, so that people who take the lives of others are dealt with severely.

Source: Myjoyonline

Mr. Ayariga was addressing the opening of a two-day seminar organized by the State Enterprises Commission, for directors and board members of state institutions operating under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.  The bodies included GIHOC Distilleries, Ghana Trade Fair Company, Gratis Foundation, Ghana Free Zones Board, Tariffs Advisory Board, and the Export Development Investment Fund.

Referring to the recent storming of NDC headquarters by some party youth, to protest against government, Mr. Ayariga said that “the Atta Mills government would not transfer opportunities from others to them in the name of politics but we would work hard to expand opportunities.”  He appealed to the youth to be calm and said government was mindful of its obligation of providing the electorate with their needs. 

Mr. Ayariga said that the Ministry was developing a policy framework and strategy to improve the private sector, to create more businesses and jobs for the youth as part of government’s “better Ghana agenda.”  He charged the Board members to work assiduously to create more employment to improve upon the wellbeing of the people.

Mr. Ayariga reminded them that the fulfilment of government’s campaign promises and the “better Ghana agenda” would depend on the expansion of bushiness opportunities.  Mr. Yao Klinogo, Acting Executive Chairman of the Commission, said the seminar was to create the opportunity for participants to share their experiences in mobilising funds and harnessing human resources for attaining the “better Ghana agenda”.

 He called on the boards of the institutions to work as a team to implement strategies to meet local and international standards.
GNA

Na Dawuni gave the advice on Wednesday in Tamale when Mr Bernard Morna, General Secretary of the People’s National Convention, (PNC) paid a courtesy call on him.  He said everybody, the world over, was crying for peace but in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa, people were still up in arms against their brothers and stressed the need for leaders, especially those in Ghana, to live exemplary lives for the youth to emulate.

“There is no place better than home so we should not create bitter conditions that would let our people continue to live in fear and deter investors into the country to open jobs for the youth,” he stressed.  He advised politicians who were always sponsoring the youth to purchase weapons and ammunitions to desist because one day such weapons and ammunitions would be used against them saying, “He who pulls the sword dies by the sword.”

He said it was due to the poverty levels in the North, which made the youth vulnerable to monetary influence for acts of violence, that the Dakpema Educational Fund was launched, last year, to help brilliant but needy children to continue with their education.

Na Dawuni said though the account was receiving patronage it was not enough to assist many needy children to improve their education and appealed to all bodies to contribute to improve education in the north. Mr. Bernard Morna condemned the recent acts of arson in Garezhegu where a chief was allegedly murdered by some angry youth and called on the security personnel not to shield any one found culpable.

Mr. Morna said, “Killing one another is not the solution to the problems facing us as Northerners. The enemy we should fight is poverty, unemployment and disease but we should struggle towards developing our communities.”  He commended the Dakpema for his peace and development-oriented initiatives and said the PNC would strengthen the chieftaincy institutions, especially those with development agendas, when the party wins power in 2012.

Mr. Morna advised the youth, especially those recently arrested in Tamale, when they were transporting ammunitions to Bunkprurugu to mention the names of politicians who were behind them to serve as a deterrent to such acts.
GNA

 The Minister for Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, made this known at the opening of a five-day in-service training workshop for Senior High School (SHS) teachers at the Ghana Education Staff Development Institute (GESDI) in Ajumako.  In attendance were 150 specialist teachers in English, mathematics and social studies.

Mr Tetty-Enyo called on participants to take the training programme seriously to improve upon their competence levels so as to maximise the use of teaching and learning materials and bring satisfaction to parents and the tax payer.  He urged participants to endeavour to share the knowledge gained with their head-teachers and fellow staff so that together they could produce well qualified leaders capable of manning the nation’s education sector.

Mr Tettey-Enyo was grateful to the African Development Bank for funding the programme and other upcoming training programmes, and thanked the Japanese government for her consultancy services in the introduction of in-service training programmes for both basic and second-cycle institutions.

Madam Victoria Opoku, Director in charge of Secondary Education observed that despite in-service training programmes and other extra classes, the performance of SHS students in recent times was at its lowest and called on teachers to work extra hard, be more committed to their studies and make sure there is improvement.  She said the government’s policy was to support teaching and learning, adding that teachers must therefore reciprocate this resolve by working hard to improve the quality of education.

Mr Isaac Amonoo, the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Director of Education, who chaired the function, charged the participants to count themselves blessed for the opportunity, take the course seriously and go back to implement what they had learnt so as to produce useful citizens for the nation’s development. 

Mr Emmanuel Opare, Deputy Director of Basic Education and course co-ordinator, said the workshop participants was the second batch out of 4,200 core subject teachers to be retrained between now and September when the new four-year SHS programme takes off in all SHS and Technical Institutions nationwide.  He said another batch of 50 integrated science teachers was undergoing in-service training at the Ghana Education Service (GES) Science Resource Centre at Cantonment in Accra.

GNA